No one should be without a Tết celebration, and no one should be left behind.
In keeping with the tradition of "mutual support and compassion," and wishing to bring warmth to everyone during the Lunar New Year of 2024, all levels of government, sectors, and organizations in localities are making great efforts to ensure timely payment of salaries and Tet bonuses; at the same time, they are providing more practical gifts to policy beneficiary families and those in difficult circumstances.
Despite a turbulent year marked by order shortages, production difficulties, and reduced profits, many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City are still striving to care for their employees, especially during the Lunar New Year of 2024. Due to the impact of the global economic situation, the number of orders for Vinh Duong Embroidery Co., Ltd. (Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City) decreased by approximately 30% in 2023. Although undesirable, the company had to resort to workforce reductions to overcome the difficulties. However, instead of reducing working hours, which would decrease the income of all employees, the company decided to provide 3.5 months' salary support to those who voluntarily resigned. This creates opportunities for employees seeking new jobs while allowing the company to better care for and ensure income for those who remain.
Despite a turbulent year, many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City are still making efforts to take care of their employees, especially during the Lunar New Year of 2024.
Mr. Lieu Ngoc Son, Chairman of the Company's Trade Union, said that although orders decreased, employees were still arranged to work overtime, earning an average income of over 7 million VND per month; the company reduced operating costs, thus having funds to give Tet bonuses to workers. The Trade Union proposed that the company organize a year-end party combined with a Workers' Conference, giving Tet gifts worth 500,000 VND per person; and announce the Tet holiday schedule so that employees can enjoy the Spring Festival and celebrate Tet with their families. For Song Ngoc Garment Co., Ltd. (Binh Tan District), the global economic impacts after COVID-19 affected both revenue and employee income. According to Mr. Tran Thanh Son, Chairman of the Company's Trade Union, the company has made efforts to find new markets to increase orders, arrange overtime work again, create stable jobs, and take the best care of its employees. For the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon, the company decided to increase bonuses by approximately 300,000 VND compared to 2023, averaging around 9 million VND per person; with the highest bonus being 23 million VND and the lowest 6.2 million VND. The Trade Union proposed that the company organize a year-end party combined with entertainment activities, a lucky draw, and New Year's gifts worth approximately 300,000 VND per person.
"Vietnamese Goods Fair - Celebrating Tet with Workers" features thousands of discounted items for trade union members and workers in Ho Chi Minh City.
Recently, PouYuen Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Binh Tan District) - the company with the largest workforce in Ho Chi Minh City - announced it would allocate over 633 billion VND to provide Tet bonuses for its employees, despite having previously laid off thousands of workers due to a shortage of orders. According to Mr. Cu Phat Nghiep, Chairman of the Company's Trade Union, Tet bonuses are based on the salary according to the December 2023 labor contract, including basic salary and salary for strenuous and hazardous work (if any), plus job allowances, professional allowances, and special allowances (if any); the average bonus is 17 million VND per person, with the highest being approximately 67 million VND and the lowest over 5 million VND. At the High-Tech Park in Thu Duc City, Nidec Vietnam Co., Ltd., in addition to Tet bonuses equivalent to 1.1 months' salary, also provided 18 transportation trips to take over 500 employees and their relatives back to their hometowns in the North, Central, and South of Vietnam for Tet. In this program, the company covers 90-100% of the bus fare for long-term employees to return home.
According to Mr. Le Van Thinh, Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, although production and business activities faced many difficulties last year, enterprises made efforts to give Tet bonuses to their employees. This not only increased benefits and advantages but also motivated employees to celebrate the Lunar New Year and remain committed to the company in the long term. A survey of over 1,200 enterprises showed that more than 46% of businesses, in addition to Tet bonuses, also provided practical care and support for their employees such as gifts, shopping vouchers, lucky money, organized transportation to return home for the holidays, or financial assistance and free bus tickets. The average Tet bonus in 2024 was over 12.3 million VND per person (down from 2023); the average Tet holiday was 8-9 days, with many enterprises combining it with annual leave to allow employees enough time to return home to visit their families.
Efforts are being made to implement a program to provide support for union members and workers during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024.
A review from trade unions at all levels in Ho Chi Minh City revealed that some businesses are facing prolonged difficulties or have poor labor relations due to unpaid wages, resulting in no Tet bonuses this year. In response to this situation, Mr. Pham Chi Tam, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labor, stated that they have implemented nine key measures to support disadvantaged workers who cannot return home for Tet, with a total budget of 192 billion VND; and prepared contingency funds to ensure timely support for those who do not receive Tet bonuses or are owed wages, in order to stabilize labor relations. “Spring Reunion - Spring of Gratitude” program is expected to care for 13,000 families of union members and workers in difficult circumstances; prioritizing workers whose working hours have been reduced and who cannot afford to return home for Tet, with 1 million VND per family including gifts and cash. In support of workers, this Tet, the Ho Chi Minh City Social Security Fund is providing 1,000 gift packages worth over 1 billion VND to disadvantaged workers; the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, together with the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the City Youth Union, are organizing the “Spring of Love” program and giving thousands of gifts to disadvantaged children and children in youth and worker accommodation areas. The City Youth Union is providing bus and train tickets, and giving gifts to workers who have lost their jobs or cannot afford to return home for Tet; visiting and giving gifts to soldiers and their families serving in border and island areas.”
Workers of Hanoi Plastic Joint Stock Company receive gifts from the Chairman of the Hanoi City Federation of Labor (archive photo).
In Hanoi , the Chairman of the Hanoi Federation of Labor, Pham Quang Thanh, stated: “The city's labor unions at all levels are strengthening measures to stabilize labor relations and care for workers during the 2024 Lunar New Year.” According to assessments by labor unions at all levels, in 2023, the prices of some input goods increased, especially consumer goods, food, and fuel; and there was a localized shortage of labor, affecting the production and business activities of enterprises as well as the employment, living conditions, and income of workers. With a spirit of overcoming difficulties, most businesses still strived to ensure that the average salary for workers in 2023 was the same as in 2022. This is an important solution to ensure workers feel secure in their jobs, businesses operate stably, and contribute to ensuring the livelihoods of workers and social security. The average salary in 2023 in enterprises with state-owned shares or capital contributions increased by 0.72% compared to 2022; salaries in other types of enterprises remained the same as in 2022... A representative of the Hanoi City Federation of Labor also stated that during the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will implement the "Trade Union Tet Market 2024" program through e-commerce platforms on a nationwide scale to support trade union members and workers in purchasing quality goods at preferential prices.
Nearly 1,800 Tet gifts were presented, along with free medical check-ups and treatment for workers in Hung Yen.
With 4,000 support grants from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor , the Hanoi City Federation of Labor has allocated specific numbers; requesting units to review, select, and compile lists of eligible union members with difficult circumstances and outstanding achievements in labor, production, and union activities to participate in the program promptly and effectively. The "Trade Union Tet Market 2024" program via e-commerce platform is expected to take place from January 15th to February 7th, 2024. Each participating union member will receive a newly issued, free credit card (or bank card) with 300,000 VND to purchase goods on the e-commerce platform. The Hanoi City Federation of Labor Unions requests that all units actively promote activities related to caring for union members and workers during the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, organized by all levels of the Hanoi Labor Union in general, and the "Labor Union Tet Market 2024" program through the e-commerce platform of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in particular, to reach a large number of union members and workers in Hanoi.
In Bac Ninh, with the motto that all union members and workers should have a happy Tet holiday, the Bac Ninh Provincial Federation of Labor is actively implementing the program "Tet Reunion - Spring Sharing; Workers' Festival - Trade Union Tet Market 2024". The Bac Ninh Provincial Federation of Labor plans to give 3,500 gift packages to union members in difficult circumstances, those who have suffered work accidents, occupational diseases, or have been affected by storms, floods, natural disasters, and epidemics; and to give 10,000 bus tickets to union members working far from home (100 km or more) who need to return home to celebrate the Lunar New Year. In addition, the Provincial Trade Union will organize cultural and sports exchange activities, folk games, lucky draws, free services, etc., for union members and workers. Especially at the 2024 Trade Union Tet Market, the Provincial Federation of Labor will distribute 3,000 zero-cost shopping vouchers to union members in difficult circumstances, and plans to set up 60-70 welfare stalls offering essential goods and services for union members and workers. Of these, the Provincial Federation of Labor will set up approximately 20 zero-cost stalls offering items such as: clothing, food, essential goods, health check-ups and consultations, legal advice, telecommunication services, safe driving instruction, free oil changes and haircuts…; Approximately 40-50 stalls will offer goods, services, and products that can meet the regular consumption needs of a large number of workers… with discounts ranging from 10-50%.
To ensure that policy beneficiary families, people with meritorious services to the revolution, poor households, and social welfare recipients have a warm and joyful Lunar New Year 2024, Vinh Phuc province has allocated 38.1 billion VND from its budget and mobilized resources to visit and present gifts to policy beneficiary families, people with meritorious services, and poor households so that everyone can celebrate the Spring Festival fully. Of this amount, the province allocated over 28.7 billion VND to visit and support 33,875 people with meritorious services to the revolution, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, wounded soldiers, sick soldiers with less than 81% disability, surviving resistance fighters who were captured and imprisoned by the enemy; relatives of veteran revolutionary cadres; relatives of cadres who participated in the pre-revolution period; and resistance fighters who were exposed to chemical toxins and are currently receiving allowances…
200 gift packages were distributed to people in difficult circumstances in Vinh Phuc.
200 gift packages were distributed to people in difficult circumstances in Vinh Phuc.
Vinh Phuc province allocated nearly 2.8 billion VND to visit and give Tet gifts to over 4,600 poor households with particularly difficult circumstances, households receiving social welfare benefits, and near-poor households in the province. The province also allocated nearly 6.7 billion VND to visit and give gifts to units inside and outside the province; and to individuals under the management of agencies and units who requested visits during Tet. In addition to the provincial budget, localities in Vinh Phuc province also organized visits and gift-giving to policy beneficiary families, people with meritorious services to the revolution, poor households, and households with particularly difficult circumstances using funds from the district and commune levels. Furthermore, Vinh Phuc province strengthened the mobilization of social resources, calling on businesses and philanthropists to join hands in caring for the poor and policy beneficiary families during Tet.
Program for the "Tet of Compassion" Fair in Dak Lak during the Year of the Dragon 2024.
In Dak Lak province, on January 10th, the Dak Lak Provincial Red Cross Society, in coordination with the People's Committee of Cu Kuin district, organized the "Tet of Compassion" Fair for the Year of the Dragon 2024; visiting and presenting 333 Tet gifts (worth 700,000 VND each) to people in difficult circumstances in Cu Kuin district. Ms. Ayun H'Huong, President of the Dak Lak Provincial Red Cross Society, said that the annual "Tet of Compassion" Fair aims to continue cultivating humanitarian values and spreading noble deeds and acts of kindness in the community. A new feature of this year's Fair is the diversity in the way activities are organized, designed to ensure the principles of respecting beneficiaries, connecting with the good cultural traditions of the local people, and promoting the support network in the community so that everyone has the opportunity to share and help the poor and those in difficult circumstances. The Chairman of the Provincial Red Cross Society expressed his hope to continue receiving the cooperation and support of units, businesses, and philanthropists in implementing the "Compassionate Tet" program. Every positive action and every act of sharing will contribute to helping the poor and those in difficult circumstances have a full and complete Tet holiday. On this occasion, the Organizing Committee presented 30 Tet gift packages at the program and visited and presented gifts to 3 disadvantaged families in Cu Kuin district. In addition, the Organizing Committee also set up "Zero-Cost Stalls," creating opportunities for 300 near-poor households, households in difficult circumstances, those affected by Agent Orange/dioxin, people with disabilities, and lonely elderly people to buy Tet cakes, jams, and essential goods for free.
Giving Tet gifts of compassion for people in difficult circumstances in Nam Dinh during the Year of the Dragon 2024.
On January 9th, the Nam Dinh Provincial Red Cross Society also held a ceremony to launch the "Compassionate Tet - Spring of the Year of the Dragon 2024" movement. Chairman of the Nam Dinh Provincial Red Cross Society, Pham Minh Phuong, emphasized that the "Compassionate Tet" movement aims to unleash the strength of the entire political system, promote the tradition of "loving others as oneself" among all strata of society, the business community, and philanthropists, working together to care for and assist the poor and vulnerable in society. The Red Cross branches at all levels in the province strive to provide care and support to 25,000 poor people, those in difficult circumstances, and vulnerable groups during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024, with a total value of 10-12 billion VND, and a minimum gift value of 500,000 VND or more.
Previously, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs issued a document requesting the People's Committees of provinces and cities to effectively implement social security and social assistance programs, contributing to ensuring a joyful and warm New Year celebration for the people during the Gregorian New Year and the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024. Accordingly, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to develop plans for visiting, giving gifts, and providing social assistance to people with meritorious service to the revolution, policy beneficiaries, the poor, near-poor, people with difficult circumstances, and social welfare beneficiaries during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Dragon 2024. This plan must ensure that assistance is given to the correct beneficiaries, in accordance with regulations, in a transparent and open manner, avoiding duplication and preventing exploitation or abuse of policies. The principle is that all policy beneficiaries receive gifts and are entitled to them before Tet. The Ministry also requested the timely payment of pensions and allowances to policy beneficiaries and social welfare beneficiaries in accordance with regulations. Focus on reviewing and assessing the living conditions of policy beneficiaries (people with meritorious service, the poor, the elderly, people with disabilities, children with special circumstances, people in remote areas, etc.) in order to provide timely care and support during Tet.
Review and compile the number of households and individuals at risk of food shortages during the Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon) and the lean season at the beginning of 2024; proactively mobilize resources, including local budgets and other legitimate social resources, to provide timely support to these groups. Local authorities should regularly monitor and understand the labor situation in industrial parks, export processing zones, and economic zones, facilitating workers' holiday leave and return to work after the holiday. Monitor and understand the situation to ensure that workers receive full salaries and bonuses (if any) and are given holiday leave according to regulations, paying particular attention to supporting workers who experience significant income reductions, job losses, or unemployment. Strengthen self-inspections and implement measures to ensure occupational safety and hygiene, and fire prevention at production and business establishments. Implement solutions to maintain the supply chain of human resources, ensuring timely labor supply for businesses before and after the Lunar New Year. Strengthening the protection and care of children, especially children in special circumstances, children in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; organizing healthy, safe, and economical recreational activities for children; protecting children from harmful products and toys, and social evils. Article: VNA Reporters Group; Photos and graphics: VNA - VNA Publishing; Video: Vnews; Edited by: Ha Phuong; Layout: Ha Nguyen.Source link
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